Bass Harbor is a brilliant option if you want to get away from the maddening crowd. We were there over a weekend in September and huge cruise ships pulled into Bar Harbor making it rather touristy and overrun – were only too pleased to retreat to the quiet side of the island which is only a 30 minute drive from Bar Harbor. Would recommend staying here if you want to relax. If you want to do lots of activities, its probably best to stay near Bar Harbor where there are lots of service providers for tours, hiring bikes, restaurants and shops. Bass Harbor literally has 1 restaurant and a small convenience store/gas station. South West harbor nearby has a few more options and is only a 5 min drive away.
The house itself is great – a quirky old house built by Scandinavians in the 1800’s. We also liked Barbara who owns the inn – she was chatty at breakfast and very helpful when we needed tourism advice.
We stayed in the top room which is a large space with a kitchenette, dining table, sitting area and 2 double beds. It also had a balcony which was great for having sundowners. We stayed in and cooked both nights and found the kitchen pretty well equipped.
Our room, although mostly clean, was in need of updating. The place smells a bit musty and old – which isn't unusual for such and old house in the middle of a very hot and humid September, but I also got the feeling that nothing is ever replaced. The carpet is musty, the couch is threadbare and the kitchen cupboards are filled with all sorts of pots and utensils that don’t look like they’ve been used or even taken out and cleaned in years. Some fresh linen, a new couch and carpet and a good spring clean would make a huge improvement.
Breakfast is a casual affair in kitchen the main house downstairs. Its the owners kitchen as well so there isn't much space to sit – just a few chairs, a small table and a sofa. We didn’t feel uncomfortable here and the selection of cereals, breads with jam and cream cheese, fresh coffee and orange juice was fine for us. Like many of the cheaper B&Bs in New England this is the type of accommodation where you are a guest in someone’s house, so would recommend if you enjoy a personable and homey type experience and arent too fussy about everything being spotless and in perfect condition. I would give it a 3.5 if that were an option...
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